Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Netafim-backed NAFA Raises USD 50 Million Via Equity And ECBedit
BW Disrupt – Online
Netafim Agricultural Financing Agency Pvt. Ltd. (NAFA), an agri-focused NBFC and a subsidiary of Netafim Singapore, has raised USD 40 million via external commercial borrowing (ECB) from the Phoenix Group and Cogito Capital, both Israel based investors. The raised funds will be utilized effectively for business expansion, enhanced offerings, and to expand horizons in the agri-rural domain. The company would successfully improve its margins as it intends to service the high-cost old debt and bring down the overall cost of funds.
The deal also marks fresh equity infusion into NAFA, which recently raised USD 9.4 million of Tier I Capital from Netafim Singapore and offered exit to the initial equity partners Atmaram Properties & Granite Hill Fund ...
ICAR – Indian Institute of Spices Research Receives Patent for Seed Coating Compositionedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
The Indian Council of Agriculture Research- Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, Kerala has received the patent for Seed Coating composition and its preparation. The Institute has successfully developed the Seed Coating Technology of PGPR/ beneficial microbes for seeds, and the institute has successfully done the field-testing and commercialization of this Seed Coating Technology.
About the Technology
The technology was developed by the team including Dr. M. Anandaraj, Dr. Y.K. Bini, and Dr. A.K. Johny.
It is an application of Exogenous Materials onto the surface of seeds with the aim of improving the delivery of active compounds including plant growth regulators, micronutrients, and microbial inoculants. It can increase germination and plant growth.
Pandemic rages, but farmers defy odds with winter harvestedit
Hindustan Times – Online
As a devastating Covid-19 second wave tears through the country, farmers have defied the odds — even in states with high daily cases — to nearly complete harvesting of most winter-sown crops, as they prepare for the oncoming kharif, or summer sowing, season.
Timely agricultural operations despite surging Covid-19 infections have ensured stable food supplies and farm incomes, although there have been reports of farm markets functioning with lower capacities in states such as Maharashtra, government officials aware of the developments said.
Agricultural Machinery Market In India to Grow by USD 1.87 Billionedit
PRNewswire – Online
The agricultural machinery market in India is expected to grow by USD 1.87 billion during 2021-2025, according to Technavio. The report offers a detailed analysis of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the agricultural machinery market in India in optimistic, probable, and pessimistic forecast scenarios.
The agricultural machinery market in India will witness a negative impact during the forecast period, owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio’s pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to increase in 2021 as compared to 2020.
Pandemic tears through India’s agriculture commodity demand; exports show resilienceedit
Hellenic Shipping News – Online
India’s agriculture industry is in a wait-and-watch mode amid the worsening pandemic situation, as localized lockdowns have stagnated market demand, while any subsequent stricter restrictions in the coming days are expected to slow down trading activity and disrupt supply operations.
Even though agriculture and allied activities are exempted from government restrictions so far, several markets across India remain closed as cases continue to skyrocket.
As a result, India’s domestic demand for palm oil, grains, as well as sugar is absent from the markets, sources told S&P Global Platts. India is the world’s largest buyer of palm oil, and a major consumer of grains and sugar.
Farm Bills: The potential positives and criticismsedit
The Times of India – Online
The enactment of the 3 farm laws introduced by the central government namely the farmers’ agreement on price assurance and farm services act, 2020 (FAPAFS), The Essential Commodities Act, 2020 (ECA) and the farmers’ produce trade and commerce act, 2020 (FTPC) – has resulted in huge turmoil in the agricultural and the political economy of India.
The FTPC, by far is the most controversial bill, also called the “APMC Bypass Bill” reduces the oversight of the APMCs to their “Market Yard”, outside of the market yard entities are free to transact in agriculture produce freely, without having an obligation to pay a fee to the APMC and no licenses are required by the buyers. The ...
Technology in Agriculture
Agronomic Intelligence: Top 5 AgriTech Startups Making Indian Farmers Aatmanirbharedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
No doubt, we are just emerging in that way, as rural farming is still facing several issues such as uncertain monsoon, irrigation problems, unavailability of seeds, small land-holdings, shortage of financial necessities, etc.
But technology in the field of agriculture in India is expanding day by day. Advanced methods such as machine learning, data analytics, satellite imaging are being used nowadays to meet the requirements of Indian farmers and improving their productivity.